On this journey, I ride some of the older diesel double deckers which have been used to start off new contracts for Go Ahead London in Bexleyheath and to convert a single deck route to double with Stagecoach in Bromley.

Go Ahead London took on the 99, 269 & 401 contracts from Arriva on 18th January 2025. Pending the arrival of new electrics, a motley selection of Enviro400s and Volvo B9TLs was moved into Bexleyheath (BX) Garage as a temporary allocation.

Two of BX Garage’s new routes are illustrated together at the Geddes Place stand in Bexleyheath, where E186 on the 99 meets E112 on the 401, after I had just ridden the former vehicle to this point from Woolwich. Both were previously at River Road (RR) Garage across the Thames.

Route 99: Woolwich - Bexleyheath

A fast run from Liverpool Street to Woolwich on the Elizabeth Line enabled an early start on my bus rides, commencing with the 99, the first of three routes which passed from Arriva to Go Ahead on retender from 18th January 2025. All three routes are now operated out of Bexleyheath (BX) Garage, necessitating the 51, 244 and various school services to move out of there to other garages in order to make room. Whilst new electrics were specified, as is the usual way of things these days, these were not ready in time, so existing diesels have had to start the new contracts off. Conversion of the 101, 320 and 473 to new BYD B11 electric double deckers in recent weeks threw up enough spare E, WVL and WVN types to transfer across to BX. These have been mixed in with the existing allocation at the garage and examples appear on all three routes in varying proportions each day.

First departure from Woolwich High Street after I arrived was E186, formerly of River Road (RR) Garage across the river, which left a little late on schedule and completed a fairly swift circuit around the loop to Woolwich Arsenal in an attempt to get back on time! A good crowd boarded at the station and at subsequent stops to Plumstead (PD) Garage and beyond through the narrow Plumstead High Street. At the parting of the ways beyond this, we continued straight ahead and struggled a bit climbing the hill through Bostall Woods in low gear. With the greenery behind, we levelled out through Upper Belvedere and continued over through the suburban housing to Erith, where traffic was busy in the town centre.

Beyond this, we traversed the industrial area before reaching Slade Green, calling at the station and continuing around the block to the other side of the railway, before tackling the final section of suburbia into Bexleyheath, arriving at the Town Centre after a run of 1h 10m. Well used throughout the trip.

The 99 was a longstanding route between Woolwich & Erith, being converted from crew RT to one man MB operation in 1970. It was extended to Slade Green in 1979, before being cut back again to Erith in 1985 with the 122A taking over the projection. However, the 99 resurged in 2001, this time being pushed through to Bexleyheath in place of the 469 which had come to cover this section by that time.

In London Buses days, it passed through DMS, MD, T and L types, before becoming part of the ill-fated “Bexleybus” operation in 1988 with DMS and Ls, later supplanted by Titans. Contract changes in 1994 saw it pass to Stagecoach with low floor Darts, although double decks returned in 2004 with Tridents, later replaced with Enviro400s. Arriva took over in 2018 with DW and T types, a situation which continued until the latest changes in January 2025.

***Volvo B9TL WVL359 was another transfer from River Road (RR) to Bexleyheath (BX) Garage and is seen in winter sunshine at Thamesmead Town Centre on the 401 after my journey on this bus.***

*This stop is shared with other bus routes including Superloop SL3, as evidenced by the sign above the shelter.*

Route 401: Bexleyheath - Thamesmead

I then switched my attention to the second of the new routes at BX, the 401, which has “returned home” to the garage after a 7 year period with Arriva at Dartford (DT). Now featuring the same E, WVL and WVN mix, this is essentially a return to the previous situation enjoyed by the route before it left BX in 2018.

For my outward trip, I had WVL359, another River Road transferee, which sounded unusually throaty, even for a WVL! A fairly quiet rumble out of Bexleyheath through the back doubles via Long Lane and Bedonwell Road to Upper Belvedere and then down to Belvedere Station, before the “double run” to the industrial area at Crabtree Manorway. At the A2016 dual carriageway roundabout, we passed the “Silver Horse” in the middle, a giant steel statue known as “The Cob” , inspired by the horses seen grazing on the local marshlands. Then a characteristic fast run along Yarnton Way, with only a couple of stops, before arriving into Thamesmead proper, ending with the usual loop around the Crossway housing area, before terminating at Thamesmead Town Centre. Just 35 mins to complete this short route.

The 401 was a product of “Bexleybus” in 1988, replacing a Kentish Bus service which had its origins in London Country and LT Country Bus Route 401, which was once a long trunk route from Belvedere to Sevenoaks. The TfL version was more of a local service, linking Bexleyheath and Thamesmead, initially with M-F Peak projections at either end to Woolwich and Dartford Heath, although these extensions didn’t stand the test of time and soon withered away. Initial operator was the Bexleybus unit of London Buses with restored former DMS types and new Olympians, although this soon became part of London Central and later Go Ahead London.

The 90s saw Titans and then NV class Olympians being the principal types, with PVLs taking over on low floor conversion in the noughties, although other double deck types including WVLs and Es became more common as time went on. 2018 saw Arriva take the contract, mainly with DWs but supported by a few T type Enviros, which continued until the return of the “old firm” in January 2025.

Illustrating the WVN variant of the Volvo B9TL on the newly acquired routes is WVN47 at Bexleyheath Market Place on the 401. Taken after my return run on it from Thamesmead, picking up on its next trip.

*Unlike the other vehicles previously shown, this one was already at BX Garage. Its heritage with First London can be seen with the grey dash and light blue grab poles.*

Route 401: Thamesmead - Bexleyheath

For my return trip on the 401, I awaited the following working, which was in the hands of WVN47. This example was already at BX and not one of the ones transferred in, although like its stablemates of the same class, showing its First London ancestry with purple, grey and light blue interior colour scheme. These vehicles were all originally at Northumberland Park (NP) Garage, but since Go Ahead took over that location, they have been dispersed far and wide in subsequent years.

Another stonking run, back around Crossways and through Central Thamesmead to the eastern extremities again, before continuing over the railway to Belvedere Station. A short delay on the narrow uphill section to Upper Belvedere due to traffic coming the other way, but nothing much. Passing All Saints Church on the one way system, we continued to Parsonage Manorway and Long Lane, before suddenly finding ourselves back at Bexleyheath Market Place. Also 35 mins in this direction. Reasonable usage but not that busy.

***The third route taken on with the 18th January changes was the 269 and here is E118 at Bromley North Station preparing to return to Bexleyheath Town Centre after my journey on it from that point.***

*Now at BX Garage, this vehicle still displays “AL” Garage codes from its former home at Merton, as can be seen below the driver’s cab side window*.

Route 269: Bexleyheath - Bromley North

By now approaching lunchtime, it was my opportunity to sample the third of the new routes at BX Garage, the 269. Next to depart from Bexleyheath Market Place was Enviro400 E118, still bearing “AL” codes from a previous life at Merton Garage and another of the transfers in. A good load boarded and we soon sped away around the town to Bexleyheath Library, before striking off through suburbia past Bexley War Memorial towards Sidcup. There seemed to be various sets of roadworks en route, with temporary lights to negotiate, but luckily with only minimal delay at this time of day - I shudder to think what it would be like at peak times!

Another queue leading up from Sidcup Station to the High Street, but speed picked up as we continued past Queen Mary’s Hospital towards the leafier climes of Chislehurst. There was another traffic queue the other way at Chislehurst War Memorial, but fortunately not in our direction and we made good progress across the common to Chislehurst Station. The final section through Bickley and Plaistow Lane into Bromley was accomplished fairly briskly. After dropping off most passengers at Widmore Road and the Town Hall, only a couple of us remained to alight at the Bromley North terminus. A reasonable 55 min run, despite the intervening hazards.

The 269 is one that has moved its axis over the years, having begun in 1977 between Woolwich & Sidcup via Bexleyheath in place of part of the 229. In the 80s, extensions followed at each end - to QE Hospital Woolwich on Suns only and to Bromley North daily. With the advent of “Bexleybus” in 1988, the route was reduced to operating between Bexleyheath & Bromley North, as it still does, with the 469 taking over the Woolwich - Bexleyheath leg.

In London Buses days, types passed through DMS, T & L, whilst Bexleybus operated Leyland Nationals at first, although later converted it back to double deck. Kentish Bus (later part of Arriva) gained the contract in 1991 with Olympians, with Stagecoach taking over in 1999 using Dart single deckers, later replaced with Tridents and then Enviro400s. Arriva came back again in 2018 mainly with DWs plus a sprinkling of Ts, until the latest change to Go Ahead.

Stagecoach London Enviro400 10162 of Bromley (TB) Garage drops its last passenger at Westerham Green on the 246 after my trip to this Kent outpost from Bromley North. This route was converted to double deck in January 2025 to allow its single deckers to transfer to the 323 in East London, in turn releasing the electrics formerly thereon for conversion to cycle buses for the new Silvertown Tunnel.

*The statue to the right of this view is General Wolfe of the British Army, born in Westerham, who was killed at the Battle of Quebec in 1759 and not an angry passenger whose bus is running late!*

Route 246: Bromley North - Westerham (& back)

Having completed the trio of new routes at BX Garage, I switched to Stagecoach and the recent double-decking of the 246 at Bromley (TB) Garage. My previous trip on the route had been in May 2021, when it was still single deck and I rode on the unusual Summer Sunday extension to Chartwell, former home of Sir Winston Churchill and now a popular tourist attraction. Such extensions were once common in London, but declined as car ownership grew in the 1950s/60s and fewer people used public transport to visit places of interest at weekends. The 246 extension is now unique on the TfL network.

As mentioned in a previous article, the Enviro200s on the 246 were moved to West Ham (WH) Garage earlier in 2025 for the 323, where they were needed to replace the incumbent electrics, which in turn were being repurposed as cycle buses for the opening of the new Silvertown Tunnel in April. For now, spare Enviro400s are the standard fare on the 246, enabling the scenic southern section of the route to be seen from the vantage point of the top deck.

I had fleet no 10162 for the outward run, one of four out to play on the 30 min frequency which operates M-S daytimes. Two buses are required for the Hourly evening and Sunday service. Surprisingly busy at first, as we made our way from Bromley North through the town centre to Bromley South, with plenty of home-going shoppers joining us. Between Bromley and Hayes, we followed the estate roads in the Pickhurst area, before reaching Hayes Station. Our final brush with London suburbia was at Coney Hall, after which the built-up area suddenly ended and we found ourselves in wooded countryside crossing Keston Common to Keston Village, where I recall RTs terminating many moons ago on shortworking 146s at peak times, now a distant memory.

Beyond this, we continued through the lanes to Leaves Green and the main road to Biggin Hill, passing the former RAF airfield, now home to a Battle of Britain Museum, before passing the modern day airport for executive jets. Most remaining passengers alighted at Biggin Hill Post Office and it was just a few hardy soles continuing on down Westerham Hill into the “Weald of Kent” with views of the North Downs and surrounding countryside. Very much a provincial feel to this end of the route, which only applies to a few TfL services on the extremities of the network. Arriving into the small town of Westerham, I alighted at the final stop on Westerham Green, on which statues of General Wolfe of Quebec and Sir Winston Churchill, both former local residents, can be found.

After my delightful 50 min journey from Bromley North, there was time for a cup of tea and a bun in one of the local cafes, soaking up the historic atmosphere of this attractive little town, before catching the next 246 departure, formed of fellow Enviro 10191. About half a dozen takers at Westerham Green for another scenic run, if quite slow ascending the steep Westerham Hill in this direction, which previous generations of buses sometimes had difficulty with! As we progressed back through Biggin Hill, we became busier and were quite full by Hayes and into Bromley. Traffic had increased since the outbound run and so we took 5 mins longer on this trip, 55 mins end to end, but a good run nevertheless and recommended as one of the more scenic TfL routes.

The 246 began in 1998, taking over from the 320 as the service linking Bromley and Westerham, but via a different intermediate routeing north of Biggin Hill. Famously, at one time, London Country / LT Country Bus 410 had been the trunk route between the two towns. Metrobus were the initial operator with various single deck types and in the early years there were projections to Edenbridge and East Grinstead, although these didn’t last long and were withdrawn in the early noughties. A Summer Sundays extension to Tunbridge Wells operated in 1999, but this was replaced in 2001 by the now familiar one to Chartwell. Operators swapped from Metrobus to Stagecoach in 2008, then back to Metrobus in 2015, only for Stagecoach to come back on a second stint from 2020. In latter years, Enviro200s replaced the Darts and other types favoured previously.

Back at Bromley North, I repaired to the adjacent station and the Southeastern Railway train for the homeward journey.

Watton

Repurposed Deckers in Bexleyheath & Bromley

Circling the Herts & Essex Borders

Eclectic Electrics in South London